Signal



' May 7, 1 29. WLLER 1,712,395

SIGNAL Filed March 9, 1928 ATTOR NEY BY WW2- Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,712,395 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER M. MILLER, or RIVERSIDE, onmromxm.

Application filed March 9,

My invention relates to signals and an object thereof is to provide asignal whereby the driver of a motor vehicle may readily ascertainwhether or not certain lights are functioning. p

A further object of the invention is to provide an automaticelectrically operated signal whereby the driver of a motor vehicle mayascertain whether or not the usual tail and signal lights arefunctioning.

With the preceding and otherobjects and advantages in mind, -theinvention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructionsand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to,claimed and illustrated in the accompanying draw-' ings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of parts of a motor vehicle with my inventionapplied thereto; I

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the invention and illustrating theelectrical wiring Or circuit diagrammatically; 1

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device; and

- Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same removed from the motorvehicle.

Referring to the invention in detail a cir-' cular casing 5' open at thefront and having an annular flange 6 at its forward edge is provided,the casing being adapted to be' supported on the instrument board of anautomobile, as illustrated in Figure 1. A non-conducting disk '7 formedof bakelite orother analogous materialis received in the casing 5. Pairsof transversely alined open ings 8 are provided in the disk 7 through"which binding posts 9 pass and project from the outer face of the rearwall of the casing. An insulation element 10 is interposed between thedisk :7 and easing, through which the binding posts pass toinsulate thelatter from the casing.

Supported upon tlie outer face of the disk between the pairs of openings8 is a pair of opposed solenoids 11, each 'of which is re-- ceived on abracket 12 attached to the disk. These solenoids are arranged indivergent relation and .the winding of each is electrically connectedwith one pair of the binding posts, as at 13. I Arranged'between theopposed faces of the solenoids and secured to the disk "his a verticallyarranged U-shaped bracket 14 having a right angular extension 15 at itsupper end that lies parallel with its intermediate leg.

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' srcnmnr 1928. Serial No. 260,429.

T-shape formation and has its horizontal branch received on the lowerhorizontal leg of the U-shaped bracket.

A dial 19 is received-in the open end of the casing and carrieslaterally projectingresillent U-shaped guides 20 at diametricallyopposite points on its inner face which receive the parallel legs oftheU-shaped bracket to hold the dial in place. A resilient clamping ring 21received in the outer end of the eas- 1ng,.engages the dial andcooperates with the resilient guides 20 in holding the dial Anindicating hand 22 is carried in place. by the outer end of each of therock shafts and is movable over the outer face of the dial, asillustrated in Figure 4. These indicating hands are normally disposed ina perpendicular position Where they register zero marks 23 at the loweredge of the dial. 'The phrases Tail light and Stop light are inscribedupon the dial upon opposite sides of the zero marks.

An opaque closure glass 24 is held in the open end of the casing by'aretaining ring 25 surrounding the glass and engaged with the annularflange. The closure 21 is provided with a segmental shaped transparentarea 26 overlying the indicating hands 22 and indicia.

\ The binding posts 9 are connected in series with a foot brake actuatedstop light signal and a tail light as illustrated in the electricaldiagram disclosed in Figure 3. It will be observed that when theswitches in the circuit are open the armatures will be permitted todepend in a perpendicular position and consequently cause the indicatinghands to coincide with the zero marks 23. However, when either the taillight or brake signal switch is actuated to complete an electricalcircuit, the coinciding solenoid Will be energized to attract thecorresponding armature and thereby swing its indicating hand to aposition to overlie the phrases Tail light or Stop light, as the casemay be. Should, for any reason, the circuit to either the tail light orstop signal be incom-' supported within the casing, a pair of parallel'horizontally disposed rock shafts sup ported by the bracket, an armatureextending from each rock shaft, a vertically disposed spacing elementarising from the racket and extending between the arma tures andnormally contacted by the latter, an indicating hand fixed to each ofthe rock shafts, and solenoids supported in the casing opposite to eacharmature, and when energized causing movement of the armatures tocorrespondingly move the indicating hands.

2. In a signal device a casing, a bracket supported therein having alaterally projecting part, a pair of 'pivoted armatures supported on thebracket above the laterally prO ecting part, indicating hands movablewith the armatures, solenoids supported -within the casing opposite thearmatures, a

loop remova-bly received on the laterally projecting (part of thebracket and carrying an upstan ing spacer member which extends betweenthe armatures.

3. In a signal device a casing, a substantially u-shaped ,bracketsupported within the casing, electro-magnets also supported within thecasing upon the opposite sides of the bracket, pivoted signal elementssupported by the bracket and operated to signallin position uponenergization of the solenoids, a dial received in the casing and overwhich the signal elements move, and opposed channel-shaped slipsrojectin laterally from the inner face 0 the dia and

